Sylvania



NITED STATES' PATENT FFICE.

PETER VEITZ AND ROBERT F. BERKEBILE, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENN- SYLVANIA. y

MILK-CAN LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,754, dated December27, 1898.

Serial No. 675,308. (No model.)

To aZZ w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that we, PETER VVEITZ and ROBERT F. BERKEBILE, citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Johnstown, in the county ofCambria and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Milk-Can Locks, of which the following is aspecification ,reference bein g had therein to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inmilk-can locks; and it has for its object to provide novel and effectivemeans whereby the lid of the can may be securely locked within the neck,so as to prevent any tampering with the' `contents of the can duringshipment.

A further object of the invention is to provide this lock of the utmostsimplicity of construction, while at the same time being durable as wellas effective for the purpose designed. l

The principle features of our invention comprise a screw-threadedcan-neck and a screwthreaded cap or lid to fit therein, said cap or lidcarrying the operating handle, within which is arranged the lock thatprotrudes through the flange, so as to lock the cap or lid in position.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews,in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a portion o f amilk-can constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of a portion of the handle which is attached to the capor lid. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the lid andcanneck, showing the lock in engagement. Fig. 4 is a perspective View ofthe casing for the locking-bar. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of thelocking-bar.

To put our invention into practice, we provide the neck a of the canwith a screw-thread b, terminating at its upper end at the base of theflaring rim or iiange C, which is formed upon the upper end of the neck.This screwthread b may be terminated at any point at its lower end, orthe same may be carried into termination at the junction of the neck andbody portion of the can. The said thread .ZJ is adapted to receive anexterior thread conforming in its spiral arrangement to the thread ZJand which is provided on the eXterior wall of the neck CZ, formedintegral with the plate or cap c, the said neck and cap or plate formingthe lid by means of which the can is closed. An auxiliary iiange or rimc is or may be provided, which will conform to the flaring shape of theflange c and is adapted to fit neatly Within the same and is or may beslightly flanged outwardly around its top, as shown at c2, so as to restupon the top of the flange c. The operating-handle for the cap or lid iscomposed of a bowed or handle portion proper, f, which has formed ateach end thereof the hoods g and g', having flanged extensions g2 atright angles thereto and provided with screw-holes g3 to receive thefastening-screws which secure the handle to the plate e. The hood g isadapted to receive a casing h, which fits neatly within the same and islor may be closed at its rear end and open at its outer end. The top ofthis cas ing is closed by the hood g. This casing is adapted to receivethe lock-bar 7c, which ts neatly and is adapted to operate within thesaid casing and is provided with an oblong slot or aperture 7c toreceive the operatingkey Z, which is inserted into the said slot oraperture through the keyhole Z', provided therefor in the hood g.

In order to center the key Z, the casing h may be provided on itsbed-plate with an aperture ZL' to receive the tip formed on the key Z.IThe locking-bar is adapted to protrude through the open end of thecasing and en` gage in the socket c3, provided therefor on the exteriorof the rim C. This socket may be formed by swaging said rim outwardly atits point, and the locking-bar Zr is held normally in engagementtherewith by means of the spring k2, arranged between the rear end ofthe locking-bar and the closed end of the casing.

From the description of the construction and from the illustrations ofour improved lock which we have given herewith it is thought that theoperation of the same, both I'as to placing the cap or closure inposition and for removing the same, will be readily IOO apparent andthat a further detailed description of the operation is unnecessary. Bysuch a construction a neat and eective lock which will prevent tamperingwith the contents of the can during shipment will be provided, and alldanger to the lock will be eliminated, as the mechanism is entirelyinclosed, and it is further protected by reason of its being within therim or flange of the can-neck. p

The locking-bar k is or may be provided with two inwardly-projectinglugs 7a3 to be engaged by the key.

While the foregoing appears to embody the preferred form of ourinvention, yet We do not wish to limit ourselves to the exactconstruction as herein shown and described, as various changes may bemade in the details of construction Without departing from the generalspirit of our invention.

Having fully described our invention, what We claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a milk-can, the neck thereof being provided witha screw-thread, a cap or closure for said can having adownwardly-projecting rim, said rim being provided with screw-threadsadapted to engage the screw-threads formed on the neck of the can, ahandle secured to said capor closure, a anged hood formed on each end ofsaid handle, a casing arranged Within one of said hoods,aspring-actuated lockin g-bar arranged within the casing, said neck beingprovided with a socket to receive said locking-bar, and a key operatingin a slot in the locking-bar to withdraw the same when :it is desired toremove the cap or closure from the can-neck, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The herein-described lock for milk-cans, comprising in combinationwith the can-neck having a screw thread to receive similar threadsformed on the cap or closure, a handle secured to said cap or closure,flanged hoods formed on each end of the handle for securing the same tothe cap or closure, a casing arranged Within one of said hoods, alocking-bar arranged Within the casing, a spring for holding saidlocking-bar normally in engagement with the socket provided therefor onthe rim of the can-neck, and a key operating in a slot in thelocking-bar to Withdraw the same when it is desired to remove the cap orclosure from the can-neck, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in the presence of twoWitnesses.

PETER WEITZ. ROBERT F. BERKEBILE.

Witnesses:

B. F. WENDELL, I. E. ROBERTS.

